Vadamaraadchi residents picket Point Pedro Divisional Secretariat

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 2009, 01:24 GMT]
More than a thousand residents of coastal areas of Vadamaraadchi north gathered Tuesday in front of the Point Pedro Divisional Secretariat (DS) to protest against the inadequate relief rations of food provided by the Sri Lanka Governement, and against the fishing ban that is depriving them from earning a livelihood, sources in Point Pedro said. The demonstrators blocked the entrance to the DS from 6:00 a.m but were forced out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and police deployed in large numbers, around 9:30 a.m, to make way for the employees of the DS, the sources added.

The demonstrators pointed out to the difference between the amount of dry food relief items issued by UN World Food Program and the amount supplied by the government of Sri Lanka which is based on the estimates calculated 18 year ago, outdated and hardly sufficient to meet their needs.

Fisheries Societies of the coastal villages like Paruththiththu’rai Munai and Koththadi in Vadamaraadchi north, Women’s Organizations and Rural Development Societies had organized the above protest demonstration.

Key government officials who spoke to the demonstrators in front of the Divisional Secretariat assured them they will convey the complaints to the related government authorities and will seek redress.

The demonstrators bearing placards shouted slogans against Sri Lanka government.

Meanwhile, nearly a hundred unemployed graduates staged a peaceful protest demonstration Tuesday in front of the Education Office located in Muththiraichanthai in Nalloor demanding teaching appointments and blamed the authorities for malpractice in graduate teachers’ appointments in Jaffna district, sources in Jaffna said.

The protesting graduates said that their demonstration will continue until their demands are met.

SLA soldiers and police were deployed at the site of the protest demonstration.